The VCU volleyball team left the Stuart C. Siegel Center on Sept. 3 with the players’ heads held high after sweeping the Third Degree Sportswear Volleyball Invitational tournament.
The Rams maintained a perfect home record and elevated themselves to 5-1 on the season after defeating Radford 3-0, East Tennessee State 3-2 and UNC Greensboro 3-0.
The Rams’ strong team play was led by outside hitter and tournament MVP Renata Salvatori (Londrina, Brazil), who pushed the black and gold to match their 2004 season home record at three victories after just one home stint.
“It was really fun to come in and be successful on our home court,” said first-year head coach James Finley. “The girls really talked a lot about winning at home, and being able to come in and win all three matches and win the tournament was a great way to start at home.”
The Rams opened their tournament play by defeating Radford in front of a record crowd of 908 people. Freshman Ana Luiza De Borja (Florianopolis, Brazil) led the team with 15 kills as the Rams won three games in a row to seal the match. Senior setter Shahrzad Firouzabadian (Richmond, Va./Mills Godwin High School), who made the All-Third Degree Sportswear Invitational team, also contributed 24 assists.
After winning a close match against ETSU mid day Saturday by only one game, the Rams had to beat the Spartans to seal the sweep.
With freshman Laryssa Goncalves (Curitiba, Brazil) getting her first start in relief for senior Griselle Lopez Pereira (Caguas, Puerto Rico), VCU put together a solid defensive stand to beat UNC Greensboro.
The Rams trailed the majority of the first game, but stepped up to come from behind for a 30-28 victory. The Rams used their momentum from the first game to propel them in the final two games over the Spartans, winning 30-15 and 30-21.
Finley agreed Goncalves played well in place of Pereira, the three-time Colonial Athletic Association defensive specialist of the year.
“(Goncalves) just did a really great job,” he said. “She really dug the ball well. She really settled down and passed well after she got started and that’s real exciting for us because she’ll be here to carry our team for the next three years”
Goncalves added she was excited she had the chance to start against the Highlanders.
“I’m a freshman so I was a little nervous,” she said, “but all my teammates helped me so I felt good.”
Finley is in his first year with the Rams after coaching at Arizona Western College, where he led his Matadors to a 17-1 record in the Arizona Community College Athletic Association last season. He said the key to success for VCU this season is to change the mindset of a team that went 6-21 a season ago.
“I think one of the things is changing the attitude and believing that we’re going to win,” Finley said. “Expecting to win, not hoping to win. I think that really did it.”
As well as a change in attitude, Finley also stresses hard work among his players.
“We demand a lot out of the kids and what’s happening is they are demanding a lot out of themselves and each other,” he said. “We also brought in a great group of kids that are athletic and understand the game. I’m really pleased with the work ethic, it’s a great work ethic.”
Salvatori, who also was at Arizona Western College with Finley last season had 27 kills, six digs and three solo blocks in the tournament. She said she bought into Finley’s style so much that she transferred to VCU to remain playing for her favorite coach. She said his coaching style is what has contributed to VCU’s early season success.
“He constructs a relationship with each one of the players,” she said. “He believes in what we can do. He knows the game. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had.”
Salvatori said she also believes in her players around her.
“I think we have a really talented group,” she said. “We’re able to work together all the time and be strong and help each other. We have really good chemistry.”
VCU hopes to continue their early season success as they make their way to Kansas to play four games in three days this weekend.